Fire pit ring and method of fabricating a fire pit ring and similar circular articles

ABSTRACT

A method utilizing an automated bending machine to bend Z-bar into a circular configuration for use as a fire pit ring or other structure. Z-bar has the desired cross-section such that when it is rolled into a circular configuration, it features a vertical intermediate section, an upper lip extending outward from said vertical intermediate section and lower lip extending inward from said vertical intermediate section. The upper lower serves to hold the fire pit ring in a support structure while the lower lip serves to hold a fire pit container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a method of fabricating fire pit rings and similar circular articles from certain metals and alloys.

BACKGROUND

Fire pits and related fire features have become commonplace in many backyards. However, fabricating such fire features, especially circular fire pits can be tedious. The issue relates to the fire pit ring which circumscribes the fire pit. The fire pit ring requires three elements, namely a vertical intermediate section, an upper lip extending outward from said vertical intermediate section and lower lip extending inward from said vertical intermediate section.

Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a more efficient method of fabricating a circular fire pit ring.

SUMMARY

The method detailed herein broadly comprises utilizing an automated bending machine to bend Z-bar into a circular configuration. Z-bar has the desired cross-section such that when it is rolled into a circular configuration, it features a vertical intermediate section, an upper lip extending outward from said vertical intermediate section and lower lip extending inward from said vertical intermediate section.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a series of fire pit rings according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fire pit ring installed on a support table according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view along cross-section A of a fire pit ring installed on a support table according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate views of an exemplary bending machine usable with the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary piece of Z-bar;

FIGS. 6A to 6F illustrate views of a fire pit ring being fabricated according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section view of the exemplary bending machine with desired settings according to the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an end view of a Z-bar member fed into a bending machine according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart detailing a method of fabricating a fire pit ring according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

While this detailed description focuses on fire pit rings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the method described herein is suitable for forming rings for other purposes.

FIG. 1 shows a series of fire pit rings 100-1 through 100-4. As shown in FIG. 2, the fire pit ring 100 comprises an intermediate vertical section 101, an upper lip 102 extending outward (i.e., away from the interior of the formed circle) from said intermediate vertical section 101 and a lower lip 103 extending inward (i.e., towards the interior of the formed circle) intermediate vertical section 101 forming a Z-type cross-section as best seen in FIG. 3.

Now referring to cross-section view of FIG. 3, the fire pit ring 100 rests in an opening of a support surface 110 (e.g., table or bar top) by means of the upper lip 102. A fire pit container or housing 115 rests atop the lower lip 103 of the fire pit ring 100. The width of the intermediate vertical section 101 dictates the depth of the fire pit ring 100 as it rests in the opening of the support surface 110.

FIGS. 6A to 6F show views of a fire pit ring being fabricated according to the embodiments of the present invention. A bending machine 200 of the type shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is one article used during the fabrication of the circular fire pit ring. Comac is an Italian company that makes one such bending machine. The bending machine 200 includes three rollers 201, 202 and 203 configured in a pyramid fashion. The top roller 201 rotates in a first direction while the bottom rollers 202, 302 rotate in an opposite direction to bend lengths of metal inserted between said upper roller 201 and said lower rollers 202, 203.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the Z-bar 300 is fed into the bending machine 200. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary piece of Z-bar. FIGS. 6B to 6D show the Z-bar 300 bending into a circular configuration 305. FIG. 6D shows the Z-bar 300 has been formed into a complete circular configuration with a small portion 301 of unbent Z-bar 300 remaining. FIG. 6E shows the fire pit ring 100 completely formed. As formed, the small portion 301 of unbent Z-bar 300 is bent to overlap with a portion of already bent Z-bar. In other words, the first and portion and second end portion of the Z-bar member overlap with one another. The overlapping portions allow for welding, rivets or other connection means to finalize the fire pit ring 100. As the Z-bar 300 is fed into and moved through the bending machine 200, an individual manages the process and ensures that the bent Z-bar does not re-feed back into the bending machine 200. More specifically, the individual ensures that the initial bent portion slides over the final bent portion to form the overlap. This is also assisted by the roller configuration detailed below.

FIG. 7 shows a profile view of a roller configuration for facilitating the embodiments of the present invention. The roller 400 comprises a middle section 405 sandwiched between a pair of outer sections 410-1, 410-2. The outer sections 410-1, 410-2 having a larger diameter than the middle section 405. The middle section 405 includes a slight taper (e.g., 3°) across its width. FIG. 8 shows a Z-bar member 335 positioned between an upper roller 340 and lower roller 345 (a second lower roller is not visible in this view).

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart 500 detailing one embodiment of fabricating a fire pit ring. At 505, a Z-bar member is selected. The length and dimensions of the Z-bar is determined by the desired diameter and depth of the desired fire pit ring. At 510, the selected Z-bar member is fed into a bending machine. At 515, an individual overseas the process and ensures that the first end of the Z-bar member inserted into the bending machine does not wrap around and re-feed into the bending machine. At 520, the two ends of the Z-bar member are aligned. At 525, the overlapping portions of the fire pit ring are connected using a weld or other means.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A method of forming an article comprising: selecting an elongated Z-bar member according to length and dimensions of a desired circular article; feeding said elongated Z-bar member into a bending machine to create said circular article; aligning a first end portion and second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar; and connecting said first end portion and said second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing a bending machine with three rollers in a pyramid configuration.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising utilizing rollers with a middle section sandwiched between a pair of outer sections.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising utilizing rollers with a 3° taper across widths thereof.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting said first end portion and second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar utilizing welding.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a fire pit ring.
 7. A method of forming a fire pit ring comprising: selecting an elongated Z-bar member according to length and dimensions of a desired fire pit ring; feeding said elongated Z-bar member into a bending machine to create said circular fire pit ring having an upper lip extending outward from an intermediate member and a lower lip extending inward from said intermediate member; aligning a first end portion and a second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar; and connecting said first end portion and said second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar to form said fire pit ring wherein said upper lip acts to hold said fire pit ring on a support structure and said lower lip acts to hold a fire pit container.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising utilizing a bending machine with three rollers in a pyramid configuration.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising utilizing rollers with a middle section sandwiched between a pair of outer sections.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising utilizing rollers with a 3° taper across widths thereof.
 11. The method of claim 7 further comprising connecting said first end portion and said second overlapping end portion of said elongated Z-bar utilizing welding.
 12. A fire pit ring comprising: an elongated Z-bar member bent into a circular configuration by means of a bending machine so that a first end portion and a second end portion overlap with one another, said first end portion and said second end portion connected to one another forming said fire pit ring having an upper lip configured to hold said fire pit ring in an opening of a support structure and a lower lip configured to hold a fire pit container.
 13. The fire pit ring of claim 12 wherein said first end portion and said second end portion are welded to one another. 